Collaborative giving system and method

ABSTRACT

A collaborative giving system/method that coordinates the decimation and sharing of donor gifts within a cooperating group of donee recipients is disclosed. The system/method allows donee-specific donor databases to drive automated and spatially-distributed fundraising efforts for a collaborative project with donated funds being decimated and shared among collaborative donees while simultaneously guaranteeing that donor anonymity is maintained with respect to each individual donee-specific donor database. This donor/donee anonymity permits large groups of potentially diverse donors to be assembled to support collaborative projects while still maintaining donor privacy and donee autonomy. Within the context of this typical gifting application the disclosed system/method provides the necessary accounting interface and reports to ensure that the internal/external accounting/tax issues associated with the decimated gifting transaction are properly accounted for with the donor and all collaborating donees.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure is a non-provisional conversion of, and thus claimspriority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/682,437, filedAug. 13, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporated herein byreference.

PARTIAL WAIVER OF COPYRIGHT

All of the material in this patent application is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and of othercountries. As of the first effective filing date of the presentapplication, this material is protected as unpublished material.

However, permission to copy this material is hereby granted to theextent that the copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent documentation or patent disclosure,as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods associated withcomputerized financial transactions. While not limitive of the teachingsof the present invention, a typical application for this technology isin the field of donation management for non-profit organizations insituations where fundraising in support of a common collaborativeproject is desired.

PRIOR ART AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior Art Context

A common scenario faced by many non-profit organizations is a desire tocollaborate with other non-profit organizations to accomplish one ormore goals associated with a collaborative project. For example, thismight involve several church or other non-profit organizationscollaborating to fund and construct a water treatment project in aforeign country as part of overall missionary activities in thatcountry. In many circumstances an individual church would not have thefinancial resources to fund or support this activity individually, butby collaborating with other churches sufficient financial resourcescould be amassed to successfully fund and implement the collaborativewater treatment project.

Typically in these scenarios each individual non-profit entity wouldhave difficulty in generating a collaborative fundraising effort tosupport this collaborative project for several reasons. First, the donorbase of each individual church would not be sufficient to solicitdonations to support the project. Second, sharing of donor databases sothat other churches could solicit their members would violate donorprivacy and also infringe on the autonomy of an individual church.Third, coordination and proper dissemination of the funds collected fromthe donation efforts is far beyond the infrastructure capabilities ofmost church organizations.

As a result, collaborative giving in this context is generally limitedbecause each individual church or non-profit lacks any methodology ofsolving these problems while still accomplishing the overall task ofcollecting and disseminating donations in support of the collaborativeproject.

Deficiencies in the Prior Art

The prior art as detailed above suffers from the following deficiencies:

-   -   Donation methodologies for collaborative giving do not protect        donor privacy.    -   Donation methodologies for collaborative giving do not protect        donee autonomy.    -   Donation methodologies for collaborative giving generally lack        proper accounting/tax reporting capabilities for both the donor        and donee.    -   Donation methodologies for collaborative giving generally lack        automated decimation procedures to fracture a given donation and        distribute it among a number of donees.

While some of the prior art may teach some solutions to several of theseproblems, the core issues of integrating donation capabilities among avariety of donees in support of a collaborative project has not beenaddressed by the prior art.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the objectives of the present invention are (among others)to circumvent the deficiencies in the prior art and affect the followingobjectives:

-   -   (1) Provide for a collaborative giving system and method that        protects donor privacy.    -   (2) Provide for a collaborative giving system and method that        protects donee autonomy.    -   (3) Provide for a collaborative giving system and method that        provides backend accounting/tax reporting capabilities for        donors and donees.    -   (4) Provide for a collaborative giving system and method that        allows automatic decimation of donations among a number of        donees in support of one or more collaborative projects.

While these objectives should not be understood to limit the teachingsof the present invention, in general these objectives are achieved inpart or in whole by the disclosed invention that is discussed in thefollowing sections. One skilled in the art will no doubt be able toselect aspects of the present invention as disclosed to affect anycombination of the objectives described above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a system and method for facilitatingdonor contributions in support of a collaborative project sponsored byone or more donees. The system/method permits a donor via the use of agraphical user interface (GUI) to access a collaborative givingprocessor (CGP) through a computer network. The CGP processes the donorgift using a computerized transaction processor and thendecimates/fractures this donation for payment to one or more donees foruse towards a collaborative project. Each donee may independentlymaintain their donor database and be assured that this information iskept private, thus assuring individual donor privacy and donee autonomyas to individual donor-donee relationships.

In addition to processing the computerized financial transactionassociated with the donation, the CGP generates reports for the donorand donees to ensure that proper accounting/tax reporting is providedfor all parties to the donation transaction. The use of “triggered”gifting based on donor-defined conditions may also be integrated intosome preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the advantages provided by the invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description togetherwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred exemplary system embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred exemplary method embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred exemplary system embodiment of thepresent invention depicting privacy/autonomy protection using integrateddonor databases;

FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred exemplary system embodiment of thepresent invention depicting privacy/autonomy protection usingdonee-controlled donor databases;

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred exemplary system embodiment of thepresent invention depicting accounting/tax and reporting capabilitiespresent in some invention embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention that utilizes an intermediate trustee donor to managefinancial transactions to primary/secondary donees;

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention that integrates accounting restrictions that limit how donorcontributions may be distributed to target donees;

FIG. 8 illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention that implements donee solicitation to affect collaborativegiving.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetailed preferred embodiment of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to the presently preferredembodiment, wherein these innovative teachings are advantageouslyapplied to the particular problems of a COLLABORATIVE GIVING SYSTEM ANDMETHOD. However, it should be understood that this embodiment is onlyone example of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachingsherein. In general, statements made in the specification of the presentapplication do not necessarily limit any of the various claimedinventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventivefeatures but not to others.

Internet Communication Not Limitive

The present invention anticipates that a wide range of communicationmethodologies may be utilized to affect a specific implementation of thepresent invention. While the present invention specifically anticipatesthat the use of the Internet for most applications, the presentinvention makes no limitation on the type of communication technology orcomputer networking that may be used. Thus, the term “computer network”and/or “Internet” are to be given the broadest possible definitionswithin the scope of the present invention.

Trustee/Primary Donee Not Limitive

The present invention anticipates that in many circumstances themonetary contribution from a donor will be initially directed to a“primary donee” that has a relationship with the donor and thendecimated/fractured for distribution to “secondary donees” that may ormay not be known to the donor. This paradigm may be modified in someembodiments to incorporate a third party “trustee donee” that replacesthe primary donee for purposes of the initial donor funds transfer.Thus, in this case the trustee donee receives the funds from the donor(via a computerized transaction) and then these funds aredecimated/fractured for distribution to the primary donee and/orsecondary donees as dictated by agreements between the primary andsecondary donees in conjunction with donation restrictions that may beplaced on the donation by the donor and/or primary donee.

Monetary Decimation/Fracturing Not Limitive

The present invention may equivalently use the terms “decimation” and“fracturing” to describe the fractional distribution of monetary fundsfrom a donor to one or more donees. This distribution methodology shouldbe given its broadest possible interpretation, and assumes that in somecircumstances some donees may not receive any portion of the monetaryfunds, or in some circumstances the donees may solicit funding for acollaborative project but act merely as a conduit for funds transfer tothe collaborative project. Yet other scenarios may permit cooperatingdonee organizations to solicit from their known bases of donors and havethe collected funds transferred to third party donees that are unknownto the original donors. In all of these processes, it is anticipatedthat the identification of the donors may be kept confidential withrespect to an individual soliciting donee based on privacy profilesmaintained by individual donee organizations.

Collaborative Project Not Limitive

The present invention describes the “terminal donee” for a monetarycontribution (or portion thereof) in terms of a “collaborative project.”This term should be given its broadest possible meaning and in thiscontext can be any organization/entity/individual to which funding isdesired to be targeted. For example, several churches could collaborateto support an overseas missionary and his/her family, a local individualneeding medical care, a local food bank, hospital, etc. The presentinvention makes no limitation on the scope of this term within thiscontext.

Account Restrictions/Allocations Not Limitive

The present invention anticipates that in some circumstances donationsfrom an individual donor may be “tagged” with account restrictions thatlimit the application scope to which the donated funds may apply. Thusdonation account restrictions may apply to any particular donorcontribution and the account restriction “tags” remain associated withthe donor contribution as it is processed by the CGP described hereinand eventually distributed to a terminal donee for use on one or morecollaborative projects. The term “restricted account transaction” willbe used herein to denote a financial transaction in which thecomputerized transaction incorporates limitations on the terminal use ofthe funds transfer.

System Overview (0100)

The present invention in a system embodiment may be broadly described asdepicted in FIG. 1 (0100) wherein the system application context dealswith a donor (0101) giving/gifting system using a graphical userinterface (GUI) (0102) interacting over a communications network (0103)(typically the Internet). Within this context a collaborative givingprocessor (0110) executing software read from a computer readable medium(0111) communicates with the GUI (0103) to affect monetary fundstransfers to any number of donees (0121, 0122, 0129) that are associatedwith a common collaborative project (0130) based on donationdistribution information contained in a donee database (0112). Reports(0113) of the completed giving transaction and/or accounting ledgers aregenerated by the collaborative giving processor (0110) and distributedelectronically to both the donor (0101) and donees (0121, 0122, 0129).

Collaborative giving in this context is enhanced by virtue of the factthat each of the donees (0121, 0122, 0129) may have their own donordatabases that are accessed by the collaborative giving processor (0110)to identify and solicit potential donors (0101). These donor databasesare generally proprietary to each donee (0121, 0122, 0129) and are notshared among the donees (0121, 0122, 0129). However, in this context thedonor information is not shared but rather used to coordinate thedecimated distribution of gifts from the donor (0101) to the variousdonees (0121, 0122, 0129) for the purposes of supporting a collaborativeproject (0130) that is commonly operated by the donees (0121, 0122,0129).

As an exemplary application, the system as depicted might be used in asituation where a number of church organizations as donees (0121, 0122,0129) wish to collaborate on a water treatment plant in a foreignmission as a collaborative project (0130). Within this example, donors(0101) associated with any number of the donees (0121, 0122, 0129) maybe solicited electronically via the collaborative giving processor(0110) over the communications network (0103) for contributions to thecollaborative project (0130) in the name of their particular doneechurch organization (0121, 0122, 0129). The collaborative givingprocessor (0110) accepts the donations, processes the financialtransactions associated with these donations, and distributes themonetary funds among the donee church organizations (0121, 0122, 0129)based on financial agreements between the donee church organizations(0121, 0122, 0129) as to how the donor (0101) donation is to bedistributed.

As seen from this example, the system permits donations from a widevariety of donor sources (0101) to be accepted and shared among a widevariety of donees (0121, 0122, 0129) for the purposes of supporting acommon project goal (0130) without compromising the privacy of anindividual donor (0101) or restricting the autonomy of each donee (0121,0122, 0129).

Note that this contribution model also anticipates scenarios wheredonors (0101) are solicited by a number of donees (0121, 0122, 0129) ina coordinated manner with the donations provided by the donors (0101)being forwarded directly to a funding pool associated with thecollaborative project (0130), thus bypassing any accounting or fundsmanagement associated with the donees (0121, 0122, 0129).

Method Overview (0200)

The present invention in a method embodiment may be generally describedby the flowchart of FIG. 2 (0200), wherein the collaborative givingmethod comprises the following steps:

-   -   (1) accepting entry of identification (donor ID and primary        donee ID) and donee gift information (donation amount and donee        collaborative project ID) via a data entry interface (0201);    -   (2) indexing the collaborative project ID in a donee database to        determine the donee targets associated with the collaborative        project ID (0202);    -   (3) generating a receivable for the primary donee (0203);    -   (4) processing the donor monetary transaction to the primary        donee (0204);    -   (5) generating accounting/tax reports for the donor for the        completed donor monetary transaction (0205);    -   (6) decimating the donor monetary gift to the primary donee        based on donee agreements and target collaborative project        information contained within a donee database (0206);    -   (7) generating a payable for the primary donee to the secondary        donees based on the decimation of step (6) (0207);    -   (8) generating a receivable for the secondary donees based on        the decimation of step (6) (0208);    -   (9) distributing said gifting target fractured amount from the        primary donee to the secondary donees based on the decimation of        step (6) (0209);    -   (10) generating accounting/tax reports for the primary donee for        the distribution (0210);    -   (11) generating accounting/tax reports for the secondary donees        for the distribution (0211); and    -   (12) proceeding to step (1);    -   wherein    -   the steps are performed by one or more computer systems        executing software retrieved from a computer readable medium.        This general method may be modified heavily depending on a        number of factors, with rearrangement and/or addition/deletion        of steps anticipated by the scope of the present invention.        Integration of this and other preferred exemplary embodiment        methods in conjunction with a variety of preferred exemplary        embodiment systems described herein is anticipated by the        overall scope of the present invention.

Note that within this exemplary method embodiment one preferredalternative makes one or more of the steps (0203, 0205, 0207, 0208,0210, 0211) optional. Yet another method variant replaces the primarydonee with a trustee donee (trusted financial intermediary) and combinesthe primary donee and secondary donees into a group termed “terminaldonees” that are then used as targets for financial distributions basedon the decimation step (0206).

Privacy/Autonomy Preservation Architecture (0300,0400)

One feature of the present invention is maintenance of donor privacywhile simultaneously preserving donee autonomy. In many circumstancescooperating donees do not wish to share their donor lists and theinformation regarding donors is generally treated as privateconfidential information that is not shared with third parties.Similarly, each donee generally wishes to maintain their own autonomywith respect to other donees and not be subject to the policies andprocedures associated with other donees. This desire for donee autonomyis also reflected in the fact that the financial processing systemsassociated with each donee are generally different and incompatible.

This need for privacy/autonomy may be addressed as described in FIG. 3(0300), wherein an exemplary invention embodiment depicts a donor (0301)interacting via a GUI (0302) with a data entry interface (0303) thatexecutes machine instructions read from a computer readable medium(0304). This GUI hardware/software interface communicates via a computernetwork to a collaborative giving processor (CGP) (0310) that interactswith a number of separate and independent donor databases (0311, 0312,0313, 0319) that are associated with individual donee organizations(0321, 0322, 0323, 0329) that support a common collaborative project(0330).

A donee database (0340) maintains information on each donee organization(0321, 0322, 0323, 0329) and the common collaborative project (0330)that each supports. Multiple common collaborative projects (0330) areanticipated to be supported within this framework, as well as disparategroupings of donee organizations (0321, 0322, 0323, 0329). Since eachdonor databases (0311, 0312, 0313, 0319) is isolated based on theassociated donee organization (0321, 0322, 0323, 0329), donor privacy ismaintained and donee autonomy with respect to their donor base ismaintained.

Note that while FIG. 3 (0300) indicates that the donor databases (0311,0312, 0313, 0319) may be present within the CGP (0310), otherimplementations of the present invention as generally illustrated inFIG. 4 (0400) may utilize a database “bridge” (0441, 0442, 0443, 0449)between the CGP (0410) and databases local to each donee organization(0421, 0422, 0423, 0429). One skilled in the art will recognize that thedonor database (0421, 0422, 0423, 0429) bridges (0441, 0442, 0443, 0449)may take many forms and are application specific to thedonation/accounting software used by each individual donee organization(0421, 0422, 0423, 0429).

Accounting/Tax Ledger Reconciliation/Reporting (0500)

The present invention anticipates that in conjunction with computerizedfinancial transactions a number of accounting/tax ledger reconciliationand/or reporting capabilities may be incorporated into various inventionembodiments. As generally illustrated in FIG. 5 (0500), a donor (0501)may interact with a collaborative giving processor (0510) to triggercomputerized financial transactions (0520) to a primary donee (0530)that is known by the donor (0501) as well as secondary donees (0531,0532, 0539) that have no connection to or knowledge of the donor (0501).The computerized financial transactions (0520) generally decimate thefinancial gift of the donor (0501) into gifting target (donee) fracturedamounts based on a donee database maintained by the collaborative givingprocessor (0510).

In conjunction with triggering financial transaction processing (0520)functions, the collaborative giving processor (0510) may inform (0541)the primary donee (0530) of a receivable (0551) due from the donor(0501). Similarly, the primary donee (0530) may be informed (0542) of arequired payable (0552) due to the secondary donees (0531, 0532, 0539)and the secondary donees (0531, 0532, 0539) may be informed (0543) of areceivable (0553) due from the primary donee (0530). Finally, for taxaccounting purposes, the donor (0501) may be provided with a tax receipt(0540) or other information documenting the charitable gift to theprimary donor (0530) and the secondary donees (0531, 0532, 0539).

Trustee Account Management (0600)

The present invention may incorporate a wide variety of methodologies bywhich the collaborative giving processor (CGP) distributes the decimatedmonetary donation of the donor to the various primary and secondarydonees. One exemplary architecture that may be used by many preferredembodiments is generally illustrated in FIG. 6 (0600) wherein thecollaborative giving processor (0610) utilizes a donee database (0620)that describes the target collaborative project and participating doneeorganizations, which may comprise a primary donee (0630) and any numberof secondary donees (0631, 0632, 0639). Each of these doneeorganizations (0630, 0631, 0632, 0639) may have an associated financialinstitution (0640, 0641, 0642, 0649) that handles their financialmatters, banking accounts, etc.

In one preferred invention embodiment a trustee financial institution(0650) manages a trust account (0651) that is created by the CGP (0610)to act as a conduit for funds from a variety of donees that target aparticular collaborative project. The donee database (0620) providesfinancial institution accounting information so that the CGP may utilizeinformation in the donee database (0620) to trigger (0660, 0661, 0662,0669) funds transfers (0670, 0671, 0672, 0679) from the trusteefinancial institution (0650) to the various donee financial institutionsfinancial institution (0640, 0641, 0642, 0649) based on a decimationfracturing of the monetary donation that was initially deposited in thetrustee financial institution by the donor.

Distribution Restriction Rules Application (0700)

The present invention in some preferred embodiments may incorporate avariety of distribution restriction rules that limit how donorcontributions may be distributed to target donees. As generallyillustrated in FIG. 7 (0700), an individual donor (0701) interactingwith a GUI (0702) through a computer network (0703) to a typicalcollaborative giving processor (CGP) (0710) may be presented with adonor dialog (0711) via a data entry interface (DEI) that prompts for adonor ID, primary donee ID, donor contribution (monetary amount),collaborative project ID, and/or account restrictions. The accountrestrictions portion of this typical dialog may present boundaries andconditions on which the donor contribution is to be applied to eitherthe collaborative project ID and/or the primary donor.

For example, the donor may restrict the donation to “only apply to mealsfor the elderly in county X” as part of a “meals on wheels”collaborative project ID. One skilled in the art will recognize that thelist of conditionals associated with these distribution restrictions isapplication specific and thus extremely broad in application scope.

These donor distribution restrictions are then used as input to adistribution restriction rules application process (0712) that operateswithin the context of the CGP (0710) to drive the decimation/fracturinglogic (0713) that interacts with the financial institution (0721) toaffect payment to the target donees (0730, 0731, 0732, 0739). Asindicated in the diagram, the target donees (0730, 0731, 0732, 0739) mayalso impose restrictions on the distribution of the donor contributionand these restrictions may be used by the rules application process(0713) to restrict operation of the decimation/fracturing logic (0713)and thus dictate the flow of money from the financial institution to thevarious target donees (0730, 0731, 0732, 0739).

Collaboration Invitations (0800)

The present invention anticipates that the collaborative givingprocessor (CGP) described herein may in some preferred embodimentsincorporate a mechanism whereby “primary” donees may solicit “secondary”donees to collaborate in a collaborative giving project. As generallyillustrated in FIG. 8 (0800), this collaborative giving architecturebegins with a primary donee operator (0801) acting as a proxy for aprimary donee (0830) interacting with a graphical user interface (0802)over a computer network (0803) with a collaborative giving processor(CGP) (0810) to define a collaborative project definition (0811) thatdefines the collaborative project and prospective donee participants.This collaborative project definition is typically stored in a doneedatabase (0812) that contains information on potential donees that maywish to participate in the collaborative project.

The donee database (0812) is used as a source for potential secondarydonee information that is extracted (0820) from the database (0812) toautomatically generate email (0821) and/or website collaborationinvitation information (0822) that is then distributed to a list ofpotential target donees (0830, 0831, 0832, 0839) that may wish toparticipate in the collaborative project. This collaboration invitationinformation (0821, 0822) may incorporate a wide variety of materials andmedia that are not limited strictly to email/website generation, such astext messages, video, voicemail, etc. Each of the potential targetdonees (0830, 0831, 0832, 0839) may reply (0841) to the CGP (0810)either accepting or declining the invitation to participate in thecollaborative project. In addition to initiating a reply (0841), thetarget donees (0830, 0831, 0832, 0839) may initiate a dialog with theCGP (0810) to configure collaboration constraints (0842) on the natureof their collaboration, restrictions on how collected funds will be usedand/or distributed, and other constraints governing their participationin the collaboration project.

This generalized collaboration project solicitation architecture permitsindividual target donees (0830, 0831, 0832, 0839) to cooperate ingenerating financing for collaborative projects while still maintainingprivacy of their own donor databases and also maintaining autonomy asfar as how policies and procedures within their organization areimplemented as they relate to fundraising, funds distribution,accounting, and the like.

System Summary

The present invention system anticipates a wide variety of variations inthe basic theme of construction, but can be generalized as acollaborative giving system comprising:

-   -   (a) data entry interface (DEI);    -   (b) collaborative giving processor (CGP);    -   (c) donor database (DOD); and    -   (d) donee database (DED);    -   wherein    -   the DEI displays a donation dialog screen, the donation dialog        screen comprising data entry fields to be completed by donor        input to the DEI;    -   the data entry fields are used by the CGP to index into the DOD        to retrieve a donor data record;    -   the data entry fields are used by the CGP to identify a        collaborative gifting project and a monetary gifting amount;    -   the DED is indexed by the gifting project to determine gifting        targets for the monetary gifting amount;    -   the monetary gifting amount is fractured among the gifting        targets according to information contained in the DED to define        a gifting target fractured amount specific to each of the        gifting targets;    -   the CGP initiates a computerized donor transaction to receive        the monetary gifting amount from the donor using information        contained in the donor data record; and    -   the CGP initiates a computerized donee transaction to transfer        the gifting target fractured amount to each of the gifting        targets.

This general system summary may be augmented by the various elementsdescribed herein to produce a wide variety of invention embodimentsconsistent with this overall design description.

Method Summary

The present invention method anticipates a wide variety of variations inthe basic theme of implementation, but can be generalized as acollaborative giving method comprising:

-   -   (1) accepting entry of identification (donor ID and primary        donee ID) and donee gift information (donor contribution and        donee collaborative project ID) via a data entry interface        (DEI);    -   (2) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), indexing the        collaborative project ID in a donee database to determine the        donee targets associated with the collaborative project ID;    -   (3) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), processing the        donor contribution to the primary donee via a computerized donor        transaction;    -   (4) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), decimating the        donor contribution to the primary donee to generate a gifting        target fractured amount based on information contained within        the donee database;    -   (5) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), distributing        the gifting target fractured amount from the primary donee to        the target donees based on the decimation of step (4) via a        computerized donee transaction; and    -   (6) proceeding to step (1);    -   wherein    -   the steps are performed by one or more computer systems        executing software retrieved from a computer readable medium.        This general method may be modified heavily depending on a        number of factors, with rearrangement and/or addition/deletion        of steps anticipated by the scope of the present invention.        Integration of this and other preferred exemplary embodiment        methods in conjunction with a variety of preferred exemplary        embodiment systems described herein is anticipated by the        overall scope of the present invention.

Alternate Method Summary

A present invention alternative embodiment method anticipates a widevariety of variations in the basic theme of implementation, but can begeneralized as a collaborative giving method comprising:

-   -   (1) accepting entry of identification (donor ID and primary        donee ID) and donee gift information (donor contribution and        donee collaborative project ID) via a data entry interface        (DEI);    -   (2) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), indexing the        collaborative project ID in a donee database to determine the        donee targets associated with the collaborative project ID;    -   (3) generating a receivable for the primary donee associated        with the donor;    -   (4) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), processing the        donor contribution to the primary donee via a computerized donor        transaction;    -   (5) generating accounting/tax reports for the donor associated        with the processing;    -   (6) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), decimating the        donor contribution to the primary donee to generate a gifting        target fractured amount based on information contained within        the donee database;    -   (7) generating a payable for the primary donee to the target        donees based on the decimation of step (6);    -   (8) generating a receivable for the target donees based on the        decimation of step (6);    -   (9) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), distributing        the gifting target fractured amount from the primary donee to        the target donees based on the decimation of step (6) via a        computerized donee transaction;    -   (10) generating accounting/tax reports for the primary donee        based on the distribution;    -   (11) generating accounting/tax reports for the target donees        based on the distribution; and    -   (12) proceeding to step (1);    -   wherein    -   the steps are performed by one or more computer systems        executing software retrieved from a computer readable medium.        This general method may be modified heavily depending on a        number of factors, with rearrangement and/or addition/deletion        of steps anticipated by the scope of the present invention.        Integration of this and other preferred exemplary embodiment        methods in conjunction with a variety of preferred exemplary        embodiment systems described herein is anticipated by the        overall scope of the present invention.

Alternate Method Summary

A present invention alternative embodiment method anticipates a widevariety of variations in the basic theme of implementation, but can begeneralized as a collaborative giving method comprising:

-   -   (1) accepting entry of identification (donor ID and primary        donee ID) and donee gift information (donor contribution and        donee collaborative project ID) via a data entry interface        (DEI);    -   (2) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), indexing the        collaborative project ID in a donee database to determine the        donee targets associated with the collaborative project ID;    -   (3) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), processing the        donor contribution to a trustee donee via a computerized donor        transaction;    -   (4) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), decimating the        donor contribution to the trustee donee to generate a gifting        target fractured amount based on information contained within        the donee database;    -   (5) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), distributing        the gifting target fractured amount from the trustee donee to        the target donees based on the decimation of step (4) via a        computerized donee transaction; and    -   (6) proceeding to step (1);    -   wherein    -   the steps are performed by one or more computer systems        executing software retrieved from a computer readable medium.        This general method may be modified heavily depending on a        number of factors, with rearrangement and/or addition/deletion        of steps anticipated by the scope of the present invention.        Integration of this and other preferred exemplary embodiment        methods in conjunction with a variety of preferred exemplary        embodiment systems described herein is anticipated by the        overall scope of the present invention.

Alternate Method Summary

A present invention alternative embodiment method anticipates a widevariety of variations in the basic theme of implementation, but can begeneralized as a collaborative giving method comprising:

-   -   (1) accepting entry of identification (donor ID and primary        donee ID) and donee gift information (donor contribution and        donee collaborative project ID) via a data entry interface        (DEI);    -   (2) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), indexing the        collaborative project ID in a donee database to determine the        donee targets associated with the collaborative project ID;    -   (3) generating a receivable for a trustee donee defined in the        donee database;    -   (4) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), processing the        donor contribution to the trustee donee via a computerized donor        transaction;    -   (5) generating accounting/tax reports for the donor associated        with the processing;    -   (6) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), decimating the        donor contribution to the trustee donee to generate a gifting        target fractured amount based on information contained within        the donee database;    -   (7) generating a payable for the trustee donee to the target        donees based on the decimation of step (6);    -   (8) generating a receivable for the target donees based on the        decimation of step (6);    -   (9) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), distributing        the gifting target fractured amount from the trustee donee to        the target donees based on the decimation of step (6) via a        computerized donee transaction;    -   (10) generating accounting/tax reports for the trustee donee        based on the distribution;    -   (11) generating accounting/tax reports for the target donees        based on the distribution; and    -   (12) proceeding to step (1);    -   wherein    -   the steps are performed by one or more computer systems        executing software retrieved from a computer readable medium.        This general method may be modified heavily depending on a        number of factors, with rearrangement and/or addition/deletion        of steps anticipated by the scope of the present invention.        Integration of this and other preferred exemplary embodiment        methods in conjunction with a variety of preferred exemplary        embodiment systems described herein is anticipated by the        overall scope of the present invention.

System/Method Variations

The present invention anticipates a wide variety of variations in thebasic theme of construction. The examples presented previously do notrepresent the entire scope of possible usages. They are meant to cite afew of the almost limitless possibilities.

This basic system and method may be augmented with a variety ofancillary embodiments, including but not limited to:

-   -   An embodiment wherein the computerized donor transaction        comprises a financial transaction selected from a group        consisting of restricted account transactions, negotiable        instrument transactions, check transactions, credit card        transactions, debit card transactions, and ACH transactions.    -   An embodiment wherein the computerized donee transaction        comprises a financial transaction selected from a group        consisting of restricted account transactions, negotiable        instrument transactions, check transactions, credit card        transactions, debit card transactions, and ACH transactions.    -   An embodiment wherein the DEI is embodied in computerized        hardware selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone,        tablet computer, laptop computer, and desktop computer.    -   An embodiment wherein the DEI and the CGP communicate over the        Internet.    -   An embodiment wherein the CGP generates a report of the        computerized donor transaction that is sent to the DEI.    -   An embodiment wherein the CGP generates a report of the        computerized donor transaction that is sent to the donee        associated with the donor database.    -   An embodiment wherein the CGP generates a receivable to the        donee associated with the donor database in the amount of the        monetary gifting amount.    -   An embodiment wherein the CGP generates a payable to the gifting        targets in the amount of the gifting target fractured amount,        wherein the payable is reported to the donee associated with the        donor database.    -   An embodiment wherein the CGP generates a receivable for the        gifting targets in the amount of the gifting target fractured        amount, wherein the receivable is reported to the gifting target        associated with the gifting target fractured amount.

One skilled in the art will recognize that other embodiments arepossible based on combinations of elements taught within the aboveinvention description.

Generalized Computer Usable Medium

As generally illustrated herein, the system embodiments of the presentinvention can incorporate a variety of computer readable media thatcomprise computer usable medium having computer readable code meansembodied therein. One skilled in the art will recognize that thesoftware associated with the various processes described herein can beembodied in a wide variety of computer accessible media from which thesoftware is loaded and activated. Pursuant to In re Beauregard, 35USPQ2d 1383 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,578), the present invention anticipatesand includes this type of computer readable media within the scope ofthe invention.

CONCLUSION

A collaborative giving system/method that coordinates the decimation andsharing of donor gifts within a cooperating group of donee recipientshas been disclosed. The system/method allows donee-specific donordatabases to drive automated and spatially-distributed fundraisingefforts for a collaborative project with donated funds being decimatedand shared among collaborative donees while simultaneously guaranteeingthat donor anonymity is maintained with respect to each individualdonee-specific donor database. This donor/donee anonymity permits largegroups of potentially diverse donors to be assembled to supportcollaborative projects while still maintaining donor privacy and doneeautonomy. Within the context of this typical gifting application thedisclosed system/method provides the necessary accounting interface andreports to ensure that the internal/external accounting/tax issuesassociated with the decimated gifting transaction are properly accountedfor with the donor and all collaborating donees.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collaborative giving method comprising: (1)accepting entry of identification (donor ID and primary donee ID) anddonee gift information (donor contribution and donee collaborativeproject ID) via a data entry interface (DEI); (2) using a collaborativegiving processor (CGP), indexing said collaborative project ID in adonee database to determine the donee targets associated with saidcollaborative project ID; (3) using a collaborative giving processor(CGP), processing said donor contribution to said primary donee via acomputerized donor transaction; (4) using a collaborative givingprocessor (CGP), decimating said donor contribution to said primarydonee to generate a gifting target fractured amount based on informationcontained within said donee database; (5) using a collaborative givingprocessor (CGP), distributing said gifting target fractured amount fromsaid primary donee to said target donees based on said decimation ofsaid step (4) via a computerized donee transaction; and (6) proceedingto said step (1).
 2. The collaborative giving method of claim 1 whereinsaid computerized donor transaction comprises a financial transactionselected from a group consisting of restricted account transactions,negotiable instrument transactions, check transactions, credit cardtransactions, debit card transactions, and ACH transactions.
 3. Thecollaborative giving method of claim 1 wherein said computerized doneetransaction comprises a financial transaction selected from a groupconsisting of restricted account transactions, negotiable instrumenttransactions, check transactions, credit card transactions, debit cardtransactions, and ACH transactions.
 4. The collaborative giving methodof claim 1 wherein said DEI is embodied in computerized hardwareselected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, tablet computer,laptop computer, and desktop computer.
 5. The collaborative givingmethod of claim 1 wherein said DEI and said CGP communicate over theInternet.
 6. The collaborative giving method of claim 1 wherein said CGPgenerates a report of said computerized donor transaction that is sentto said DEI.
 7. The collaborative giving method of claim 1 wherein saidCGP generates a report of said computerized donor transaction that issent to the donee associated with said donor database.
 8. Thecollaborative giving method of claim 1 wherein said CGP generates areceivable to the donee associated with said donor database in theamount of said monetary gifting amount.
 9. The collaborative givingmethod of claim 1 wherein said CGP generates a payable to said giftingtargets in the amount of said gifting target fractured amount, whereinsaid payable is reported to the donee associated with said donordatabase.
 10. The collaborative giving method of claim 1 wherein saidCGP generates a receivable for said gifting targets in the amount ofsaid gifting target fractured amount, wherein said receivable isreported to the gifting target associated with said gifting targetfractured amount.
 11. A collaborative giving method comprising: (1)accepting entry of identification (donor ID and primary donee ID) anddonee gift information (donor contribution and donee collaborativeproject ID) via a data entry interface (DEI); (2) using a collaborativegiving processor (CGP), indexing said collaborative project ID in adonee database to determine the donee targets associated with saidcollaborative project ID; (3) using a collaborative giving processor(CGP), processing said donor contribution to a trustee donee via acomputerized donor transaction; (4) using a collaborative givingprocessor (CGP), decimating said donor contribution to said trusteedonee to generate a gifting target fractured amount based on informationcontained within said donee database; (5) using a collaborative givingprocessor (CGP), distributing said gifting target fractured amount fromsaid trustee donee to said target donees based on said decimation ofsaid step (4) via a computerized donee transaction; and (6) proceedingto said step (1).
 12. The collaborative giving method of claim 11wherein said computerized donor transaction comprises a financialtransaction selected from a group consisting of restricted accounttransactions, negotiable instrument transactions, check transactions,credit card transactions, debit card transactions, and ACH transactions.13. The collaborative giving method of claim 11 wherein saidcomputerized donee transaction comprises a financial transactionselected from a group consisting of restricted account transactions,negotiable instrument transactions, check transactions, credit cardtransactions, debit card transactions, and ACH transactions.
 14. Thecollaborative giving method of claim 11 wherein said DEI is embodied incomputerized hardware selected from a group consisting of a mobilephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, and desktop computer.
 15. Thecollaborative giving method of claim 11 wherein said DEI and said CGPcommunicate over the Internet.
 16. The collaborative giving method ofclaim 11 wherein said CGP generates a report of said computerized donortransaction that is sent to said DEI.
 17. The collaborative givingmethod of claim 11 wherein said CGP generates a report of saidcomputerized donor transaction that is sent to the donee associated withsaid donor database.
 18. The collaborative giving method of claim 11wherein said CGP generates a receivable to the donee associated withsaid donor database in the amount of said monetary gifting amount. 19.The collaborative giving method of claim 11 wherein said CGP generates apayable to said gifting targets in the amount of said gifting targetfractured amount, wherein said payable is reported to the doneeassociated with said donor database.
 20. The collaborative giving methodof claim 11 wherein said CGP generates a receivable for said giftingtargets in the amount of said gifting target fractured amount, whereinsaid receivable is reported to the gifting target associated with saidgifting target fractured amount.
 21. A collaborative giving methodcomprising: (1) accepting entry of identification (donor ID and primarydonee ID) and donee gift information (donor contribution and doneecollaborative project ID) via a data entry interface (DEI); (2) using acollaborative giving processor (CGP), indexing said collaborativeproject ID in a donee database to determine the donee targets associatedwith said collaborative project ID; (3) generating a receivable for atrustee donee defined in said donee database; (4) using a collaborativegiving processor (CGP), processing said donor contribution to saidtrustee donee via a computerized donor transaction; (5) generatingaccounting/tax reports for said donor associated with said processing;(6) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), decimating said donorcontribution to said trustee donee to generate a gifting targetfractured amount based on information contained within said doneedatabase; (7) generating a payable for said trustee donee to said targetdonees based on said decimation of said step (6); (8) generating areceivable for said target donees based on said decimation of said step(6); (9) using a collaborative giving processor (CGP), distributing saidgifting target fractured amount from said trustee donee to said targetdonees based on said decimation of said step (6) via a computerizeddonee transaction; (10) generating accounting/tax reports for saidtrustee donee based on said distribution; (11) generating accounting/taxreports for said target donees based on said distribution; and (12)proceeding to said step (1).
 22. The collaborative giving method ofclaim 21 wherein said computerized donor transaction comprises afinancial transaction selected from a group consisting of restrictedaccount transactions, negotiable instrument transactions, checktransactions, credit card transactions, debit card transactions, and ACHtransactions.
 23. The collaborative giving method of claim 21 whereinsaid computerized donee transaction comprises a financial transactionselected from a group consisting of restricted account transactions,negotiable instrument transactions, check transactions, credit cardtransactions, debit card transactions, and ACH transactions.
 24. Thecollaborative giving method of claim 21 wherein said DEI is embodied incomputerized hardware selected from a group consisting of a mobilephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, and desktop computer.
 25. Thecollaborative giving method of claim 21 wherein said DEI and said CGPcommunicate over the Internet.
 26. The collaborative giving method ofclaim 21 wherein said CGP generates a report of said computerized donortransaction that is sent to said DEI.
 27. The collaborative givingmethod of claim 21 wherein said CGP generates a report of saidcomputerized donor transaction that is sent to the donee associated withsaid donor database.
 28. The collaborative giving method of claim 21wherein said CGP generates a receivable to the donee associated withsaid donor database in the amount of said monetary gifting amount. 29.The collaborative giving method of claim 21 wherein said CGP generates apayable to said gifting targets in the amount of said gifting targetfractured amount, wherein said payable is reported to the doneeassociated with said donor database.
 30. The collaborative giving methodof claim 21 wherein said CGP generates a receivable for said giftingtargets in the amount of said gifting target fractured amount, whereinsaid receivable is reported to the gifting target associated with saidgifting target fractured amount.